The role of women in agriculture has changed greatly in recent years, a conference heard yesterday.
The editor of Country Living at the Farmers Journal, Mairéad Lavery, said women were increasingly succeeding to the family farm and studying agricultural science. Some 15 per cent of farms were now run by women and it was reckoned that 30 per cent of all farm work was done by women.
The Farmers Journal and the National Dairy Council organised the one-day Women and Agriculture conference, which brought 650 women to Killarney.
Margaret Healy of IFA National Farm Family said women in farming should remember “you are not alone, no matter what the problem is and there is help. Contact your local IFA office, contact the help lines, contact your GP.”